The Netflix and the Blockbuster (with apologies to Lewis Carroll)

ByJoshua M. Brown, Guest bloggerSeptember 27, 2010

Lewis Carroll's narrative poem 'The Walrus and the Carpenter' appeared in his 1871 book 'Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There,' the sequel to 'Alice in Wonderland.' In chapter four, Tweedledum and Tweedledee recite the poem to Alice.

Original illustration from 'Through the Looking Glass,' drawn by John Tenniel

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Without question, the most fascinating stock story of 2010 is the raging success of Netflix compared with the epic collapse of Blockbuster, which just this morning filed for bankruptcy. There is a cautionary business tale in here that is both timeless and essential for all investors to understand.

The below should be recited in the meter of Lewis Carroll's'The Walrus and the Carpenter' from Through the Looking Glass:

The sun was setting on the boom The Credit Crunch was here And all the people in their homes Were looking for some cheer And in their search for things to do A new option appeared

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